Disposable recessed cigarette tip

ABSTRACT

The disclosure describes tubular nonfiltered, disposable mouthpieces for filter tip cigarettes. Each mouthpiece is cylindrical, tapered, or partially cylindrical and tapered in form, and molded of thin, plastic material. Inside each disposable mouthpiece is a plurality of projections against which the flat end of the filter of a cigarette will abut. Abutment ends of the projections are spaced from the rounded outlet end of the mouthpiece and the flat end of the cigarette so as to define a disposable recessed tip. This thin walled tip in an adapter which converts a regular cigarette, filtered or unfiltered into a recessed tip cigarette.

I Muted States Patent 1151 3,646,944 Banoczi 14 Mar. 7, 1972 [54] DISPOSABLE RECESSED CIGARETTE 355,559 i/ 1931 Great Britain ..13l/l87 TIP 26,744 1898 Great Britain... 4,468 1881 Great Britain [721 82 West Avenue, 26,812 1912 Great Britain ..131/1s7 Donen, Conn. 06820 [22] Filed: Feb. 12, 1970 Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich 1 pp NOI: 10,916 Attorney-Polachek, Saulsbury & Hough ABSTRACT 33'8" 15;? The disclosure describes tubular nonfiltered, disposable [58] Field E i; l l 229 mouthpieces for filter tip cigarettes. Each mouthpiece is cylindrical, tapered, or partially cylindrical and tapered in form, [56] References Cited and molded of thin, plastic material. Inside each disposable mouthpiece is a plurality of projections against which the flat UNlT ED STATES PATENTS end of the filter of a cigarette will abut. Abutment ends of the l projections are spaced from the rounded outlet end of the 1223 mouthpiece and the flat end of the cigarette so as to define a 3/1911 31/187 disposable recessed tip. This thin walled tip in an adapter 3260b 7/1956 Miller i "131/187 which converts a regular cigarette, filtered or unfiltered into a 1,952,352 3/1934 Banks ..13l/187 recessed P clgal'ette- 2,542,612 2/1951 Arneson ..131/187 40 14 Drawing Figures FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS r r 341,966 10/1921 German DISPOSABLE RECESSED CIGARETTE TIP The invention relates to the art of cigarette mouthpiece and more particularly concerns an improved nonfiltered disposable mouthpiece which converts a flat mouth end of a filtered or unfiltered cigarette into a recessed tip cigarette.

According to the invention, there is provided a small, thin walled disposable recessed tip or mouthpiece of tubular form into which the unfiltered or filtered mouth end of a cigarette can be inserted and gripped frictionally. Inside the recessed tip are inward extending projections or abutments or grooves, the abutments being shaped as rectangular or triangular fins. The abutment ends of the projections are spaced one-quarter inch from the outlet ends of the mouthpiece to provide a safety recessed space of this length between the end of the mouthpiece and the flat end of the unfiltered or filtered cigarette inserted into the mouthpiece. By this means a smoker can convert any flat end cigarette to a recessed tip cigarette. In addition, he is provided with a convenient, noncollapsible, attractive, disposable mouthpiece for handling the cigarette. The invention will provide the smoker with clean, distinct tobacco flavor as when smoking a filter or recessed tip cigarette. The flavor comes through unspoiled because the new mouthpiece prevents filter feedback, and also prevents nicotine and tar, which collect at the end of an ordinary flush end filter, from contacting the smoker's lips and tongue. Also from the flush end filter the nicotine and tar cannot mix with the saliva of the smokers mouth and cause a bitter taste. The cigarette holder mouthpiece recessed tip is of thin wall construction and of sufiicient length to enclose the entire filter tip end of a cigarette, or it can be slightly longer. It can be cylindrical with the same diameter from end to end, or tapered or it can be cylindrical in part and tapered in part.

Cigarette mouthpieces which have been known heretofore, have generally included filters in the mouthpieces. This structure is expensive, unsatisfactory and is avoided in the present invention, since advantage is taken of the filter embodied in the cigarette itself. Also in prior cigarette mouthpieces the ends of the cigarettes were spaced too far from the mouthpiece end of the mouthpiece device or else they admitted air into the smoke stream which weakened and diluted the tobacco flavor, or they were designed for repeated use which was very unsanitary and objectionable.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a thin-walled cigarette disposable recessed tip mouthpiece embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view and FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an assembly of the cigarette disposable recessed tip mouthpieces of FIGS. 1-4 shown on a reduced scale, with a filter tip cigarette.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIGS. 7, 10 and 12 are end view similar to FIG. 3 of other cigarette disposable mouthpieces embodying the invention.

FIGS. 8 and 11 and 13, are longitudinal sectional views taken on lines 8-8, 11-11 and 13-13 of FIGS. 7,10 and 12, respectively.

FIGS. 9 and 14 are cross-sectional views taken on lines 9-9 and 14-14 of FIGS. 8 and 13 respectively.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-6, there is shown a tubular cigarette disposable recessed tip mouthpiece which has a cylindrical body 21 uniform in diameter from end 22 to end 24. End 22 is the outlet end. End 24 is the inlet end through which the cylindrical filter tip 26 of a filter cigarette 28 is inserted. End 24 of the mouthpiece has annular bevel 27 to facilitate insertion of the cigarette into the mouthpiece 20. The filter tip 26 of the filter cigarette is frictionally engaged inside the recessed tip mouthpiece 20 against the inner side of its cylindrical wall surface 23. At end 22 of the mouthpiece are arcuate radial stiffening projections 30. Each projection 30 has a length D which extends inwardly about one-quarter of an inch from the outlet end 22 of the mouthpiece. End 22 is rounded and stiffened to provide a smooth, hard, comfortable bite in the smokers mouth. Extending inwardly from rounded end face 22 for the full length of radially inwardly extending projections 30 are equally spaced grooves 32. The depth of these grooves is substantially equal to the width of arcuate annular inner end walls 34 of the stiffening projections 30. These end walls 34 provide abutments against which the flat or flush end 36 of the cigarette filter tip 26 abuts. Three grooves 32 are shown to define three arcuate projections 30, however, more than three grooves and projections can be provided. lt will be understood that the projections '30 may be formed with or without the grooves 32. By the arrangement described, a safety chamber recess 35 is defined between the end face 36 of the cigarette filter tip 26 and the outlet end face 22 of the mouthpiece 20. This chamber or recess 35 is of just sufficient length and size to prevent the smokers tongue from touching the end of the cigarette filter tip 26. The filtered smoke which leaves the filter is drawn out of mouthpiece end 22. Any tar or nicotine which collects on end 36 of the filter tip stays behind. This provides a cleaner, smoother, more tasty and more flavorful smoke than is possible with a filter tip cigarette without a mouthpiece such as just described.

FIGS. 7,8 and 9 show another tubular cigarette disposable mouthpiece 20A which is generally similar to mouthpiece 20 and corresponding parts are identically numbered and perform similar functions. End 24 of the mouthpiece 20A has a cylindrical enlargement 27a for allowing easy introduction of a cigarette, an adjacent conically tapered chamber 27b for frictionally holding the cigarette. In cylindrical body 210 of mouthpiece 20A a plurality of elongated projections 40 extend radially inward at the outlet end 22 of the mouthpiece. These projections are fins which are rectangular in longitudinal sectional view and may be somewhat trapezoidal in cross section. These fin projections 40 each have a length D of about one-quarter of an inch. Their end walls 42 define abutments for the flat end of the filter tip of a cigarette in the same manner as walls 34 of projections 20. Two, three or more of these fins may be used. Mouthpiece 20A has a cylindrical body 21a of uniform diameter throughout like mouthpiece 20.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a tubular cigarette disposable mouthpiece 208 which is tapered in form. The diameter of the mouthpiece body 21b varies uniformly from its larger end 24 to its smaller end 22'. End 22' is rounded like end 22 of mouthpieces 20 and 20A. As an optional feature, a bevel similar to bevel 27 of FIG. 2 may be provided at inlet end 24. This mouthpiece will grip the cigarette frictionally and effectively. The cigarette filter tip 26 will abut projections 50 extending radially inward of the outlet end of the mouthpiece. These projections are fins which may be triangular in radial section or trapezoidal in cross section as clearly shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The inner end walls 52 of the projections provide abutments for the flat end face 36 of the cigarette 28. The projections 50 have a length D; which is about one-eighth of an inch, and the abutment end walls 52 of the projections are spaced distance D of about one-quarter of an inch from the rounded outlet end face 22 of the mouthpiece 208. Thus, a tapered safety chamber recess 35 is provided between the flat end face of the filter tip of the cigarette and the outlet end face 22' of the mouthpiece as in mouthpieces 20 and 20A. Although projections 50 are shown in a tapered body 21b, it will be apparent that similar-shaped projections can be the cylindrical body 21 of the other forms of the invention.

In FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, there is shown a tubular cigarette disposable mouthpiece 20C which has a cylindrical body 210 like the body of mouthpieces 20 and 20A. End 24" of the mouthpiece has a cylindrical enlargement 55 for the same purpose as cylindrical enlargement 27a, a conically tapered portion 55a adjacent thereto which communicates with a lesser diameter cylindrical chamber 56. By this arrangement the filter tip can be frictionally gripped inside the cylindrical chamber surface, 56 of the body while the body part of the filter 26 is located in cylindrical chamber 56 where it is tightly gripped.

in the body 210 of disposable mouthpiece 20C, is a plurality of radial projections 60 in the form of short fins which are triangular in both longitudinal section and in radial cross section. They have fiat end walls 62 which serve as abutments for the fiat end of the filter tip of the cigarette. The projections 60 have length which is about one-sixteenth of an inch. End walls 62 are located distance D equal to about one-quarter of an inch from the rounded outlet end 22 of the mouthpiece.

This defines safety space chamber or recess 35" between the end walls 62 and end 22 of the mouthpiece.

It will be noted that the mouthpieces illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6, 8 and 13 are cylindrical in external diameter from end to end. As an optional feature, the above-indicated mouthpieces also can be externally cylindrical in part and externally tapered in part.

The disposable mouthpiece of my invention is a one-piece thin-walled construction, while shown exaggerated, can be formed of nearly paper thin material preferably by modern molding processes very economically. Preferably it is fabricated from any suitable plastic material. However, it is not desired to limit its fabrication just to a plastic material. Therefore, the mouthpiece also can be fabricated from granulated tobacco or vegetable material put together under pressure using a vegetable gum as a binder which produces harmless gummy exudations. The mouthpiece also can be fabricated of any other suitable material. They can be thrown away with the smoked cigarette since they are very inexpensrve.

Furthermore, the disposable mouthpiece can be made in various attractive colors and may include an appealing red color for women smokers to match their red lips and finger nails. The mouthpiece may be imprinted with any desired indicia. They constitute an attractive useful improvement for filter cigarettes with flat ends as currently produced commercially.

While the projections 30 and grooves 32 and tiny fins 40, 50 and 60 are shown provided for certain species of the invention, it will be understood that these features are not limited to any particular species because the projections 30 with grooves 32 and the tiny fins in various forms are interchangeable and can be utilized with any one of the various mouthpieces species illustrated.

Also the improved mouthpiece is primarily designed to provide the smoker with a l t-inch recessed feature. However, if desired the disposable mouthpiece can also come with threeeighths of an inch, one-half of an inch, or longer recessed mouthpiece features, which is optional.

If desired, smokers can be provided with packets of mouthpieces for application to their cigarettes. However, it is also possible that cigarette manufacturers will attach the mouthpieces to the cigarettes at the time of manufacture. in any case, the mouthpieces provide a new way of improving the appearance, character, flavor and enjoyment of a cigarette at negligible cost.

The smoker can change his favorite brand of flush end filter good advantage.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided a nonfiltered disposable recessed cigarette tip device for which the primary purpose has been to serve as an adapter to convert any integral mouthpiece end of a filtered or unfiltered cigarette into a recessed tip cigarette.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A disposable mouthpiece for a cigarette having a cylindrical filter tip with substantially flat end, comprising a one-piece tubular body made of thin lightweight material with an inner inlet-opening at one end and an outer outlet-opening at an opposite end, said body having an annular bevel at its inlet-opening end to facilitate insertion of a cylindrical filter tip into said body, said outer outlet-opening end being rounded in form to provide a smooth comfortable bite in the smokers mouth; and a plurality of radially inwardly extending projections spaced circumferentially apart inside said body near to said outlet end thereof, said projections having flat walls at distal terminals thereof toward said inner inlet-opening defining abuttrnents for a flat end of a cylindrical filter tip of a cigarette and extending to the mouthpiece outer end wall to reinforce the biteend of the mouthpiece, said projection end-walls being spaced about one-quarter inch from said outer end of said body defining a safety chamber between said flat end of the filter tip cigarette and said outlet end of the mouthpiece, said body including a tapered portion gradually decreasing in diameter between its inlet-opening end and its outlet-opening end.

2. A cigarette disposable mouthpiece as defined in claim 1, wherein said body has a cylindrical portion of substantially uniform diameter, said cylindrical portion extending outwardly from said inlet end, and said tapered portion of gradually decreasing diameter extending from said cylindrical portion to said outlet end, said projections being located only in said tapered outlet end portion of the body.

3. A cigarette disposable mouthpiece as defined in claim 2, wherein said projections are arcuate in cross section, the projections defining between each projection and each respective adjacent projection a groove extending longitudinally of said body between the adjacent projections.

4. A cigarette disposable mouthpiece as defined in claim 3, wherein said projections are about one-quarter of an inch long and are generally rectangular in longitudinal section. 

1. A disposable mouthpiece for a cigarette having a cylindrical filter tip with substantially flat end, comprising a one-piece tubular body made of thin lightweight material with an inner inlet-opening at one end and an outer outlet-opening at an opposite end, said body having an annular bevel at its inletopening end to facilitate insertion of a cylindrical filter tip into said body, said outer outlet-opening end being rounded in form to provide a smooth comfortable bite in the smoker''s mouth; and a plurality of radially inwardly extending projections spaced circumferentially apart inside said body near to said outlet end thereof, said projections having flat walls at distal terminals thereof toward said inner inlet-opening defining abuttments for a flat end of a cylindrical filter tip of a cigarette and extending to the mouthpiece outer end wall to reinforce the bite-end of the mouthpiece, said projection end-walls being spaced about onequarter inch from said outer end of said body defining a safety chamber between said flat end of the filter tip cigarette and said outlet end of the mouthpiece, said body including a tapered portion gradually decreasing in diameter between its inletopening end and its outlet-opening end.
 2. A cigarette disposable mouthpiece as defined in claim 1, wherein said body has a cylindrical portion of substantially uniform diameter, said cylindrical portion extending outwardly from said inlet end, and said tapered portion of gradually decreasing diameter extending from said cylindrical portion to said outlet end, said projections being located only in said tapered outlet end portion of the body.
 3. A cigarette disposable mouthpiece as defined in claim 2, wherein said projections are arcuate in cross section, the projections defining between each projection and each respective adjacent projection a groove extending longitudinally of said body between the adjacent projections.
 4. A cigarette disposable mouthpiece as defined in claim 3, wherein said projections are about one-quarter of an inch long and are generally rectangular in longitudinal section. 